May is one of the most beautiful months of the year. The garden begins to sprout, wild flowers start to bloom plus trees and grasses are turning green. The first full moon over the Valley is on May 3, 9:45 p.m. “Once in a Blue Moon” — a second full moon in the same month — often occurs in May. It’s May 21 of next year, again May 18, 2019.
The Kentucky Derby is the first Saturday in May. Mother’s Day is the second Sunday in May. Moreover, Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday in May.
Under a flower moon here are our choices for shopping, dining and entertainment because it’s May. It’s May the month when we can all say, and yes you may:
3 Get a May attitude ladies and attend the Women with Hattitude luncheon on May 7. The Women’s Voices Fund event supports playwrights and directors in DCPA’s Seawell Ballroom. Information: 303-446-4815.
3 Rare art sale at Philadelphia Print Shop May 4-15 is a supernatural delight featuring 19th Century through WWII prints. Information: 303-322-4757.
3 Everyone yell Mayday this month and begin heading to the Valley’s largest garden center. Paulino Gardens specializes in trees, shrubs and rose bushes plus vegetables and herbs. Information: 303-429-8062.
3 For Mother’s Day give mom a chocolate high at the Colorado Chocolate Festival in the Denver Mart, May 8-9. Information: 303-347-8252.
3 Fly high in May with rugs from Ten Thousand Villages’ Oriental Rug Event at Augustana Church, May 13-16. Information: 303-316-8773.
3 Go with your heart or on a whim, but do attend the Children’s Future fundraiser at Sullivan’s May 15, 5:30 p.m. Information: 720-545-5254.
3 Mom will spoon to the moon when you treat her to brunch the second Sunday in May at the Inn at Cherry Creek. Information: 303-377-8577.
3 Make it a May to remember by learning to launch your own business at CFU’s Un-Job Fair in Lowry, May 30. Information: 303-399-0093.
3 Think about the moon when you attend the annual Colorado Corks & Cuisine event May 21, 5:30-8:30 p.m. You are sure to write a song about the heart because it will howl with delight in the moonlight at Four Mile Historic Park. You’ll sample the fruits of local wineries, distilleries, breweries, and culinary artists while raising funds to support the park’s preservation and education initiatives. Information: 720-865-0815.
May was first named for Maia, the Roman goddess of spring and growth. The snow and ice are usually gone, but the hot temperatures haven’t arrived yet. When the moon gets big and bright it’s like walking on moon craters causing us to get hungry. We’re in luck because it’s National Barbecue, Salad, Salsa and Strawberry Month.
Fragrances waft through the air from the forsythia, violets and jack-in-the box that bloom in May. Birds build their nests this month to sit on eggs that will soon hatch.
It’s May; it’s May, that gorgeous holiday, declared Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe in the musical Camelot. “It’s mad, it’s gay, a libelous display with those dreary vows that everyone takes and everyone breaks.” Or to paraphrase another song, they don’t bark and they don’t bite, they keep loose because it’s moonlight in May.
— Glen Richardson
The Valley Gadfly can be reached at newspaper@glendalecherrycreek.com.